We have a small ravine that runs by our house. We have heard it called a “waterway” by people who have lived in this neighborhood for a long time and wondered how it got that name. Yesterday, on the fifth consecutive day of rain, we found out. Last night there was at least a foot of water in the ravine. We’ve got a river running by our house.

You must be getting tired of having me write about rain. I’m actually starting to grow tired of it raining. It’s hard to keep the mud from being tracked in the house. The dogs are looking for places to go inside because they don’t want to go outside. The gutters are filling up with leaves and mud, reminding me that I needed to clean them out way back before these rains began. Today the rain is not as romantic as it was yesterday. Today the rain reminds me of my responsibility.

There’s a good lesson here in that all good things carry weight. The Spirit of God brings joy, inspiration and freedom [“where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:18)], but these things are not without responsibility. Someone who is filled with the Spirit is filled to accomplish something. It takes discipline and responsibility to be used of God.

Our God is a God of action. “Be not only hearers of the word,” Jesus said, “but doers also.” We need to constantly be asking, “Lord, what would you have me do?” Following Christ is a life of service. Get used to it! (I’m talking to myself, here.) This is not a spiritual beauty contest; it is a call to action.

Soon the rains will be over. There will be nothing but a quiet night outside my window, but for the occasional loud car or siren. The ravine will dry up and there may not be water in it again for years. Will I be ready for what comes next? Will you?